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Location: Munster, IN | saw this on MH:
On a day when you would think that anyone crazy enough to go fishing would deserve a big fish, Tom Gelb boated the largest musky of his life.
Gelb, of Conover, WI, and a Musky Hunter Field Editor, launched his row-trolling boat in air temperatures that had sunk into the single digits on Thursday, November 30, the final day of Wisconsin's 2006 musky fishing season.
When he returned, Gelb had boated the largest Wisconsin musky reported since 1989.
"Everybody says they want to catch a 50-pounder, and I caught one!" Gelb laughed while standing at Eagle Sports Center in Eagle River, WI, while his giant musky hung from a nearby scale. Gelb's fish weighed 51 3/4 pounds, measured 53 inches in length, and carried a 28 1/2-inch girth.
The last Wisconsin 50-pounder was caught by Robert Grutt from Big Round Lake in 1989. The last time a 50-pounder was caught from Vilas County waters was in 1975, when Gene Allen caught a 51-pounder from the Flambeau Chain of Lakes.
Gelb's fish was rapidly freezing in the 14-degree air as he recounted how he caught the big musky.
"I had just a devil of a time getting it into the net. I knew it was a 35- or 40-pounder, but when I finally got it netted and saw its side, I knew I had something special," Gelb said. "I couldn't lift it into the boat, so I rowed to shore. In the boat, I measured a 30-inch girth but it was sliding around so much. I couldn't believe it."
Gelb's musky struck a straight model, Harley Davidson blue DepthRaider.
Who said there are no BIG fish in WI? |
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Posts: 2894
Location: Yahara River Chain | Congratulations Tom, I could happen to a more deserving guy!
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Congratulations, Tom. One heck of a fish! |
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Location: The desert | A 50lb'er is a true trophy! They guy has every right to keep it if he wants. Gerard put it best I believe. So I will say my congrats and let it be! Way to go on a frigid day!! Wish I could have gotten out but "the bottle" is calling a few of us tonight after a WICKED test we took! Shots all around for F's all around! Ugh...I digress! Nice fish...hope to see a pic!
Mike |
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Posts: 2865
Location: Brookfield, WI | Congratulations to the angler. Can't wait to see a picture. Last day of the year in freezing temps. Now that's a story!
Kevin
It's Showtime, almost.
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Posts: 518
Location: Cave Run Lake KY. | Tom Gelb was helping Muskies,Ink. Back in 1982 when I first joined #35- Milw. He was a Vice President at Harley-Davidson Milwaukee, and his time was limited but he went out of his way to help make the club into a great Chapter. To make fun and ridicule someone you don't know only goes to show you what you don't know. Tom Gelb was a great sportsman 25 years ago as he still is today. Congratulations Tom. ----- Marv. |
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Posts: 23
Location: minneapolis | Very cool story..if I caught that fish, I may have released it and told a select few, or I may have killed it and told a select few..I may never know, either way.. "Judge not , lest you be judged".....maybe next year
Mikef
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| congrats to the angler. im sure he has put into muskies more then hes taken. its a legal personal choice. |
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Posts: 199
| That is an awesome fish and I can't fault him for keeping it great job and awesome fish I can't wait to see the pictures. |
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Posts: 2
| note:
these pictures are the best so far. all are Polaroids which are not the best in cold weather... digitals should be available tomorrow
Edited by cmtree 12/6/2006 10:20 PM
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Posts: 2
| more:
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 Gelb_3.jpg (31KB - 581 downloads)
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Posts: 143
| holy monster batman. |
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Location: The Yahara Chain | Awesome fish, congrats to Tom. |
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| great fish caught by a great fisherman. it took true dedication to be out there today...
congratulations!
to my way of thinking:
it's OK to politely say, "I wish he'd released it."
it's wrong when anyone suggests he's a bad person because he didn't.
they're very different things.
i wish he'd released it.
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Posts: 20192
Location: oswego, il | If you ever get a chance to see Tom Gelb speak, I highly suggest it. he is good. I Have heard some crazy stories about him and fishing as far as what he went through to fish where he wanted. A beast of a fish. |
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Posts: 405
| #*^@ that fish is huge!! i like the pic of it laying on the ground to see how fat it really was!! |
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Location: Brookfield, WI | Whoa. That girl was hitting the right cisco buffet. And I thought I was fat.
Kevin
It's Showtime, almost. |
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| Once again, congratulations Tom on one hell of a catch. I can't think of a better person more deserving to catch a fish like this than you.
After skinning out the fish, there was absolutely nothing in the belly at all! State certified scale weighed the fish out at 51.2 pounds!
I'm attempting to attach some photos taken today at the studio when the fish was brought in. So this is what a 28" girth really looks like! WOW!! A picture is worth a thousand words, or in this case, even more!!
Rick Lax
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Gelb 7.jpg (25KB - 443 downloads)
Gelb 5.jpg (56KB - 736 downloads)
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Posts: 1916
Location: Greenfield, WI | Congratulations Tom on a tremendous fish caught by an equally tremendous guy! I couldn't wish this fish on a classier guy! Way to go. |
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Posts: 144
Location: Green Bay, WI | Congrats Mr. Gelb. Awesome fish and on a day like today you definitely earned it. I'll bet it made the day feel a lot warmer.
Edited by bobski 12/1/2006 9:24 AM
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Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Thanks for the pictures, Rick! |
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Location: Stevens Point, WI | That is one hell of a fish! Congrats! |
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Location: Hayward, WI | Holy cow! That thing is just huge in every sense of the word! Battling the elements paid off.
curleytail |
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| No big fish in WI, HA HA! Congratulations Tom, a truly great accomplishment and so very cool to see row trolling pay off in such a big way on the last day of the WI season 
Steve |
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Posts: 1764
Location: Ogden, Ut | Fantastic fish; that thing's an absolute pig. Congrats Tom.
S. |
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Posts: 299
Location: Ontario, California | uhhhhhhhhh.....................
Yeah that about says it all.
Congratulations! |
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| WOW!!..................................maybe I do have to get out of Illinois |
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Posts: 956
Location: Home of the 2016 World Series Champion Cubs | Congrats Tom. Thats right no big fish in Wi. I can guess what a lot of the chatter at the upcoming shows will be about.........................where does one get a harley davidson blue staright model depth raider? Just kidding. the latest 50#er coaught in wi. of course. Again, nice job.
Karl
Here's something to think about...The weight calculator figures the fish to go 51.94 pounds. Pretty darn close I'd say. BUT, according to Rick Lax, the fish had a completely empty belly. HMMMMMMMM
Edited by KARLOUTDOORS 12/1/2006 3:49 AM
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Posts: 2361
| Good for the resolve and faith of us all to see a fish like this absolutely verified, and a fisherman rewarded for his own faith and resolve.
It can always be the next cast.
Congratulations on what has to be considered a "LIFE FISH"!! |
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Posts: 938
Location: NeverNever Lake | Wholly smokes
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